Visit Tra Vinh – Official Tra Vinh Travel Guide
Planning a holiday to Tra Vinh? Discover top reasons to go, best time to visit, tours and free itineraries, history and hidden gems with the official guide! Find out what to do, where to go, where to stay and what to eat in Tra Vinh from the local travel experts who know it best. If you’re not able to visit just yet, plan ahead to make the most of your wish-lists.
Tra Vinh, one of the prettiest towns in the Mekong Delta, is a peaceful place to explore the region’s little-touted Cambodian connection and have yet to see tourists in any numbers. Around 300,000 ethnic Khmer live in the surrounding province and the area is dotted with more than 160 Khmer pagodas. With wide boulevards shaded by lines of trees, the town itself is more symbolic of the French colonialism era, but get beyond the outskirts and you’ll soon discover that Khmer culture is still alive and well in these parts of Vietnam. Tra Vinh Province belongs to the Mekong River Delta in the South of Vietnam. Tra Vinh City is 66km from Vinh Long, 130km from Ho Chi Minh City, 44km from Ben Tre, 80km from Can Tho and has a long coastline of 65km with the East Sea on the East. While few people speak English, there’s certainly no shortage of smiles—Tra Vinh may be well off the tourist trail, but it is an amazingly friendly place.

Top Reasons to Go
Non-touristy
Adjacent to the Ben Tre, Vinh Long and Can Tho (where they have hundred boats, cruises and international airport), few tourists know that Tra Vinh is like a hidden gem and well off the tourist trail, but it is an amazingly friendly place. Besides, Tra Vinh is also famous for the paradise of extremely beautiful and unique Khmer temples in Vietnam.

A Trip to 160 Khmer Temples
Tra Vinh is the Khmer’s minority land in Vietnam; as you get nearer to Tra Vinh, distinctive pagodas begin to appear beside the road, painted in rich pastel shades of lilac, orange and turquoise, their steep horned roofs puncturing the sky. The Khmer temples in Tra Vinh Province are all enclosed in leafy, walled compounds, shaded by tall tropical trees including exotic-looking lontar palms, tamarind, mango, coconut and traveller’s palms. The temple grounds are pleasant, calm places – refuges from the sun, heat and rain of the Mekong plains, and from the noise, commerce and industry of much of the Delta region. Altogether there are over 160 Khmer pagodas scattered around the province. For us, the temple enclosures are places to contemplate, to read, to write, to breathe, to stroll: like a park. Visitors come here to watch the storks at nearby Hang Pagoda. One of the best highlights to see and do in Tra Vinh city is Vam Ray pagoda – A beautiful Tra Vinh Khmer pagoda in Mekong Delta Vietnam. The pagoda is not only famous for the reclining Buddha statue and the stupa but also for its striking architecture.

Ethnic Khmer
Ethnic Khmer is a component of the community of 54 enthic groups in Vietnam who have lived for a long time with the Kinh, Hoa and several other ethnic minorities in the Mekong River Delta. It is the most populous ethnic group among those who use Mon – Khmer languages in our country.
Khmer people have a unique traditional cultural identity which is expressed through their writing, customs, festivals and customs as well as other community activities. As a devout people, they observe many festivals originating from Buddhist such as the Vesak Festival, Dolta Ceremony (gratitude to one’s parents, a pardon for all spirit), Chol Chhnam Thmey (New Year), Ok Om Bok Ceremony (Moon Worship, eating new young rice, Ngo boat race) and many more. All the customs and festivals of Khmer people include the religious colours of both Brahmanism and Buddhism, as well as the typical features of the inhabitants of a wet rice farm and are closely associated with the pagoda. For the Khmer, the pagoda is a “scared realm”, the place to entrust the followers’ whole lives with the concept of entrusting their bodies to do pagoda while still living and the entering of their bones in the pagoda after death. The pagoda is the spiritual and cultural space and the center for cultural activities of the community.
The ancestors of the Khmer in the South are a part of the ancient people in Southeast Asia, which researchers call ProtoIndochine. The group which inhabits lower Laos and northeast Cambodia today has passed through the transformations of the human race and been affected by many other components, especially Indian, Malay and Mon, eventually becoming the Khmer. In the late fifth century and early sixth century AD, thanks to the development of iron technology and the influence of Indian culture, these ancient Khmer tribes made up the early nation Bhawanpura which the ancient Chinese bibliographies calles Chenla. Traces of this nation remain today in the famous archaeological sites of Mlu-Prây and Vát Phu.

Cuisine
Bun Nuoc Leo Tra Vinh is a kind of rice noodle/ vermicelli with soup. People call Tra Vinh noodle soup as a dish of solidarity, because the dish is the quintessential combination of Kinh – Khmer – Hoa ethnic groups, shown in each dish ingredient is typical of 3 ethnic groups. The “soul” of the broth is a blend of lemongrass, fish sauce and ngai bun – a turmeric-like tuber, slightly darker than turmeric.
One of the best Tra Vinh Street Foods is definitely Cong Cake (Banh Cong). It is a hot, crispy drain cake with the greasy meat, shrimps and the green beans served with sweet and sour sauce and vegetable
Coming to Tra Vinh, you not only can enjoy the beautiful scenery of ancient pagodas or participate in joyful and colorful festivals with the identity of the three ethnic groups Kinh, Hoa and Khmer, visitors also enjoy delicious cakes of this place. The most special thing to mention is the Banh Tet Tra Cuon (sticky rice cake from Tra Cuon village). Tra Cuon Tet Cakes are more delicious and tasty because of the good quality ingredients that are carefully chosen, from the quality of glutinous rice for making the cakes to the variety of banana leaves for wrapping them.

Getting here and around
Nowadays Tra Vinh is getting easier for everyone to get there and get around. It also means that traveling to the town won’t take much sweat, especially when you get here by public bus, car via the highway. We will break this down in detail, so check the information below to choose your best vehicle option.
Air travel: Currently, there aren’t any direct flights to Tra Vinh. The nearest one is Tan Son Nhat intl airport and Tra Noc intl (Can Tho) airport.
Bus travel: From Ho Chi Minh city to Tra Vinh. The best bus company for getting from Saigon to Tra Vinh is the Futa Bus Lines company. You can catch a bus from the Western bus station (address: 395 Kinh Duong Vuong, An Lac Ward, Binh Tan District, Ho Chi Minh City) with the time to travel to Tra Vinh is 3 hours, to buy tickets or contact system of specialized vehicles running Saigon – Tra Vinh route such as: Phuong Trang (futa bus lines), add in Saigon: 272 De Tham, District 1. Tel for booking ticket: 19006067. Once you’ve arrived at the Tra Vinh Bus Station, take a taxi to your Tra Vinh accommodation. Or, if taking the Futa bus line, take the complimentary transportation van which goes to certain areas in 10 km distance. For your return trip, you can pre-book your tickets or have your accommodation help reserve the tickets for you.
Bus travel: From Can Tho to Tra Vinh. Take the public bus as Phuong Trang Futa bus line. Super easy to have a ticket. These buses are great and new and AC and depart from Can Tho to Tra Vinh daily.
Boat travel: Not a public boat yet.
Speed Boat travel: From HCMC to Tra Vinh. Not yet
Speed Boat travel: From Can Tho to Tra Vinh. Not yet
Cruises: Not yet.
Train travel: Not yet.
Bicycle and motorcycle travel: While it’s possible to rent a motorbike to explore the Tra Vinh, most visitors choose to utilize the free bicycles offered by most resorts and homestays. The roads are bumpy and occasionally muddy but the distances are relatively short. You’ll notice that many of the locals opt to travel by bike as well so you’ll be in good company. From HCMC you can find “Thanh Lam motorbike rental shop: Address at No.17C Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, contact: 0902 840 361” or “Style Motorbikes motorbike rental shop: Address at No.42/24 Tran Dinh Xu Street, Co Giang Ward, District 1, contact: 0915.139.796” and “Dragon Bikes motorbike rental shop: Address at No.182/5A De Tham Street, Cau Ong Lanh Ward, District 1, contact: 0909 283 280. Top Tip: Tra Vinh has the most beautiful scenes in the Mekong Delta and they are still very original. Renting a bicycle and riding around the streets in the countryside is really a memorable experience.

Ferry travel: Not yet.

Best time to Visit Tra Vinh
Belonging to the Mekong Delta River, Tra Vinh shares the common advantages with the whole region: abundant light conditions and high and stable temperature. However, due to the climate features of the coastal region, Tra Vinh also suffered from difficulties such as strong wind, high level of evaporation and low rainfall. The average temperature of Tra Vinh is 26.6°C, which ranges from the minimum of 18.5 °C to the maximum of 35.8 °C. Tra Vinh’s climate is divided into 2 main seasons: dry season and rainy season. If you want to avoid the heavy tropical downpours of the monsoon, come during the dry season (roughly November-April), when the skies are clear, the sun shines, and humidity is low. However, by April the temperatures can be extremely hot. On the other hand, the rainy season (roughly May-October) can be atmospheric in this region because of the epic monsoon skies: great cloud cathedrals rising above the vast flat delta. But flooding could be a problem at this time of year, particularly as many of the smaller, back-roads on this loop run alongside waterways.

Tra Vinh Tourist attractions
Hang Pagoda
Called Hang Pagoda (Hang means cave) because the temple gate has a design very similar to a cave leading into the spiritual world of indigenous people. Different from meticulously embellished architectural works, this temple has perfect harmony with nature. Also called Stork pagoda because the campus in the temple is half-covered with trees, which is also home to many unique birds. Taking advantage of that rich resources, the monks here have carved large trees themselves, turning them into unique artworks of the temple. The sight of the hundreds of storks that nest in the grounds of this Khmer pagoda is one that will linger in the memory. Timing, however, is all-important, and you should aim to catch these magnificent creatures before dusk, when they wheel and hover over the treetops, their snowy wings catching the evening’s sunlight. It’s a stirring sight, though you might find yourself distracted by the saffron-robed monks who clamour to practise their English. They may also show you their woodcarving workshop, where there’s usually someone at work on a wooden tiger. The pagoda is located 6 km south of town, 300m past the bus station… Read more info & pictures

Nôdol Pagoda (Stork temple)
Nodol temple or Co temple or Stock temple in Giong Lon hamlet, Dai An commune, Tra Cu district, Tra Vinh, 40km from Tra Vinh town to the south shall be just good call for those fancying a crowded flock perching everywhere. It was built in 1677. The great pagoda features Khmer architectural traits. The main hall, stupa, monk chamber and the synagogue mount on peaks and pinnacles. Temple is surrounded by bamboo trees, Hopea odorata green all year round… Read more info & pictures

Ba Dong Beach
Located in Truong Long Hoa commune, Duyen Hai district, about 55km from the center of Tra Vinh town. Previously, the French had built on the most beautiful beach of Long Hoa field a resort for quiescence. Ba Dong beach still retains pristine features with nice sand, clear water, fresh air and quietness. The name of Ba Dong beach comes from the daily activities of the sea. Every low tide, the beach emerges three beautiful and unique sand caves (including two small caves and one large cave). So if you miss Ba Dong at the time of the sprint, you still have a fun time at these great dunes. Visiting Ba Dong beach you can also enjoy the famous specialities of the western river region. Many of the items, infrastructure investment has sprung to serve the tourism potential in Ba Dong Beach like Long Toan bridge, Kinh Xang, Bai Don, Lang Chim ferry… Read more info & pictures

Ba Om Pond
Five kilometres southwest of Tra Vinh, Ba Om Pond, this large, lotus-filled, village of Ta Cu, Nguyet Hoa commune, Chau Thanh district, is one of the most scenic spots of Tra Vinh province. Ba Om pond has a rectangular shape 500m long and 300m wide. Calm and blue surface mirrors the ancient trees enclosed. Over time, the roots of the old trees around the pond bulge on the ground and form fanciful shapes. Around the pond are high sand mounds shaded hopea odorata; The atmosphere feels clean and cool. Ba Om Pond is a favourite place for the local picnickers, and a spiritual site for the Khmers. Around the pond, drinks and snack vendors lie in wait for visitors, but although it can get crowded at weekends, on weekdays it is usually restful. In 1994, the Ministry of Culture and Information decided to recognize the Ba Om Pond to be a relic and national scenic spot. Also at this site are the Ang Pagoda and, opposite its entrance, is the nicely presented Khmer Minority People’s Museum… Read more info & pictures

Ang pagoda
Built on temple ruins adjacent to Ba Om Pond, Ang Pagoda is a venerable Khmer-style pagoda, fusing classic Khmer architecture with French colonial influences. The interior features brightly painted scenes from the Buddha’s life, and the friendly monks may try chatting with you… Read more info & pictures

Khmer Minority People’s Museum
Paired with the Khmer museum in Soc Trang province. It’s the shortest address for those who are interested in learning about Khmer culture. The Khmer Museum of Tra Vinh is the ideal Tra Vinh tourist destination for those interested in learning about Khmer culture. The museum was inaugurated in 1995 in cluster 4, ward 8, Tra Vinh town. This place currently preserves a lot of rich artifacts about the cultural, spiritual, material cultural life of the Khmer people in Tra Vinh and the Mekong Delta… Read more info & pictures

Vam Ray Pagoda
Vam Ray Pagoda is the largest Khmer temple in Vietnam with bold Khmer architecture. This place attracts not only local people but also tourists from all over the world to visit and worship. The distinctive structure and outstanding yellow colour of Vam Ray Pagoda easily remind people of the scenery of the distant country of the Golden Temple. With its unique outstanding architecture. Vam Ray pagoda has contributed to creating a new face for the cultural tourism industry of Tra Vinh province as well as of the system of Khmer Nam Bo pagodas. Vam Ray pagoda is also the very hot check-in point of Tra Vinh. The main hall has a strangely beautiful image, radiating a mystical spiritual atmosphere. Many young people choose to check-in at sunset when the orange sunlight turns to a fanciful purple color coating each pattern. If you catch the moment when the pigeons flutter their wings on the top of the tower, you will get an image with a beautiful background…

Tra Vinh Markets, Shopping and Souvenirs
Tra Vinh Market
Tra Vinh Market is located right in the city center, the largest market is the trading hub of the whole city. Here you can buy everything you need, from personal items to food. Otherwise, you will also feel excited when witnessing the exciting, bustling atmosphere taking place among friendly and lovely Western people. This is the ideal place to end your Tra Vinh tour, where you can buy rustic gifts for friends and relatives. At Tra Vinh market, countless exclusive delicacies have become the local specialties such as coconut crumb mix up green rice, rhynchophorus ferrugineus, Xuan Thanh wine, cylindric glutinous rice cake, macerated fish stew, noodle soup bouillon broth, eel stewed creek premna, Cau Quan grilled fish, stuffed pancake, tube cake (banhong), noodle soup.

Tra Vinh Food and Drink
Tra Vinh Street Foods
Like all Mekong Delta provinces, Tra Vinh is full of great food. The region has several specialities, one of which is bún nước lèo – a fish based noodle soup with lots of extras, such as roast pork. You’ll see signs for bún nước lèo all across the province. Tra Vinh City has lots of good street food. Rather than heading to a specific place, just explore the city centre until you stumble upon a streetside stall with lots of diners. For example, there are many food stalls in front of the central market (Chợ Trà Vinh) in the evenings, and around the night market (Chợ Đêm), too. Trần Phú Nối Dài street is lined with BBQ restaurants, beer joints and cafes – great for a night out if you’re travelling with friends. The shady grid of streets in the old quarter has lots of good local cafes, some serving Vietnamese-style iced coffee, others serving hot Italian-style machine coffee. I like Coffee 89. There are a couple of big supermarkets that are useful if you want to buy food for a picnic on the road: try GO! Mart. Thanks to the large Buddhist population, vegetarian food is quite common in Tra Vinh: look for signs saying Cơm Chay or just Chay.

Dong Khoi Noodle Soup: at Dong Khoi Street, Tra Vinh, or No.4 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, Tra Vinh.
Tra Vinh Hu Tieu: at Pham Thai Buong Street, Tra Vinh
Dinh Y Restaurant: at 152 Tran Quoc Tuan Street, Ward 2, Tra Vinh

Cong Cake (Banh Cong)
It’s called “Banh Cong” because people use a “Cong” to cook. A “Cong” has a long handle and looks like a small metal milk bottle. In the Mekong Delta, people still use “Cong” as a unit of measures in dealing at the market. “Cong” has many sizes:  ½ “xị”, 1 “xị” (4 “xị” equal to 1 liter), ½ liter, 1 liter and the biggest size is 2-liters Cống.
Banh Cong is made with rice flour mixed with wheat flour to keep Banh Cong soft and crispy. You can use rice flour or soak rice then grind to make Banh Cong. Rice flour grinded is always better than buying rice flour from the market because it keeps the fragrant flavor. If you don’t know how to select rice flour at the market you can easily get old, moudy flour and make your cake sour and bitter.
Banh Cong is always served with sweet-sour fish sauce, lime and minced chili. Fish sauce adds more shredded cucumber, carrot and radish. Aromatic herbs are fish mint, lettuce, basil, herb mint…

Bun Nuoc Leo Tra Vinh’s Noodle Soup
Bun Nuoc Leo Tra Vinh is a kind of rice noodle/ vermicelli with soup. People call Tra Vinh noodle soup as a dish of solidarity, because the dish is the quintessential combination of Kinh – Khmer – Hoa ethnic groups, shown in each dish ingredient is typical of 3 ethnic groups. The “soul” of the broth is a blend of lemongrass, fish sauce and ngai bun – a turmeric-like tuber, slightly darker than turmeric… Read more info & pictures

Sticky Rice Cake Tra Cuon
Coming to Tra Vinh, you not only can enjoy the beautiful scenery of ancient pagodas or participate in joyful and colorful festivals with the identity of the three ethnic groups Kinh, Hoa and Khmer, visitors also enjoy delicious cakes of this place. The most special thing to mention is the Banh Tet Tra Cuon (sticky rice cake from Tra Cuon village). Tra Cuon Tet Cakes are more delicious and tasty because of the good quality ingredients that are carefully chosen, from the quality of glutinous rice for making the cakes to the variety of banana leaves for wrapping them… Read more info & pictures

Macapuno Coconut
Macapuno coconut is a specialty only in Tra Vinh, because it cannot be propagated in many other areas, that characteristic is also one of the conditions that make the price of wax coconut quite expensive.
Wax coconut appeared in the 1960s, this coconut variety is the only specialty in Tra Vinh, Mekong Delta Vietnam, which is famous for many delicious and attractive coconuts. Due to genetic mutations or climatic conditions as well as soil of this land create a strange waxy coconut variety, especially in this area of ​​​​the province